Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Should You Take Social Security Earlier Than Planned If You’re Laid Off Due To COVID-19?
Forbes ^ | April 15 2020 | Ashlea Ebeling

Posted on 05/09/2020 1:23:54 PM PDT by rintintin

If you’re laid off in the COVID-19 economy and you’re an older adult, you might be wondering: Am I going to have to take Social Security earlier than I planned? How much will that reduce my monthly benefits in the long run? What happens if I get a new job?

For many older adults, claiming Social Security early would be a big mistake — a mistake made by many older workers who lost jobs in the Great Recession.

“In 2008/2009, the jobs just were not there for older workers, and they had to claim Social Security early. The bad part about that is it locks you into a low monthly benefit,” says Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. In 2009, one year after the stock market plummeted, 42.4 percent of 62-year-olds signed up for their benefits, up sharply from the 37.6 percent of 62-year-olds who signed up in 2008, Center researchers found. (Sixty-two is the youngest age at which you can claim Social Security retirement benefits.)

If you do go down the road of taking Social Security early, keep in mind that you can start Social Security early and stop it later to mitigate the damage to your income stream. We’ll explain how. First, consider these options if you need cash.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 last
To: noiseman

You will receive cost of living increases with SS... suppose to offset inflation. But the basket of goods they use to to determine the increase contains things older Americans don’t spend their money on... also it’s only adjusted once a year.


41 posted on 05/09/2020 3:21:29 PM PDT by GOPJ (Was misery & death worth the four bucks saved on the crappy waffle-iron 'made in China?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: rintintin

I took it early, but I have Leukemia. Had no idea if I would make it to 66 and the break even is 73 anyway if I had waited.

My closest two Childhood Friends both died at age 61. They got nothing and they “contributed” at least $250,000 each during their Working Careers.


42 posted on 05/09/2020 3:24:16 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (THEY LIVE, and we're the only ones wearing the Sunglasses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: catnipman
> if you make it to 95, it really won’t matter ... <

Excuse me, but when I’m 95 I plan to be dating Jennifer Aniston. Sure, she won’t be looking so good by then. But also my vision won’t be so good. So I’m guessing it will all even out.


43 posted on 05/09/2020 3:30:57 PM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: dakine
Isn’t SS a cable bill and maybe an Electric bill worth of benefits ...?

My wife worked most of her life so the two of us will have over $70K / year in SSA income if we can wait until FRA - which is just 10 years away for me and eight for her. Compared to 52K a year if we take it at 62. That's way more than a cable and electric bill!

If we can last until 70 to file, it will be almost 90K in income. But yes, the actuarial tables are against us on that one. Most likely we'll start taking it at 67.

44 posted on 05/09/2020 3:34:59 PM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: desertfreedom765

When I was 62 there was that mandated Obama care. I took my ss just to cover the cost of an individual plan. There were hardly any jobs after I had been laid off so going back to work and getting benefits was little chance. Health insurance premiums were very high for anything half decent. So about 85 percent of my total check covered the insurance invoice every month til I turned 65 and went on Medicare. So I live the rest of my life getting less due to Obama.


45 posted on 05/09/2020 3:47:38 PM PDT by lilypad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: rintintin

If you can go four years without eating or paying rent, by all means, you should wait for full retirement.


46 posted on 05/09/2020 3:51:38 PM PDT by meadsjn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A Navy Vet

Same here at 63.


47 posted on 05/09/2020 3:54:47 PM PDT by arthurus (monk covfefe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PeteB570

A year at $2,000 per month is $24,000.

If you wait and go up $200 per month, you’ll have to go 120 months, or 10 years, before you break even.

But then, you’ll be winning!


48 posted on 05/09/2020 3:59:07 PM PDT by Chasaway (Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Night Hides Not

Same here, I wondered why when I was signing up to draw SS at age 62 the clerk asked me if I had any minor children. So what if I had them, what has that anything to do with my SS benefit?

As it turns our 2nd child was born when I was 53. So I had a 9 year old and a 11 year old at home. Both of them received benefits until reaching age 18. I never knew this and all the retirement seminars I attended at my large employer’s (5000+ employees) I never heard about that benefit.


49 posted on 05/09/2020 4:08:59 PM PDT by entropy12 (covid-19 separates the fearful from the freedom loving! If I am not afraid, no one should be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Chasaway

My family tree says I should make it well into my 80’s.

Could probably use that extra $200 come that time in my life.


50 posted on 05/09/2020 4:18:57 PM PDT by PeteB570 ( Islam is the sea in which the Terrorist Shark swims. The deeper the sea the larger the shark.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: desertfreedom765
"If you’re 62 and not working, you would be crazy to not take it. As the Government goes broke they will find a way to reduce or eliminate benefits."

Exactly my point about getting YOUR money back quickly. Does anyone on this thread trust the Fedgov NOT to reduce SS payments? As stated above, it would take me to about 73 to lose the benefit of applying at 62. I'm 70 and at 73, I still get my original payment, providing it's not reduced or changed into some other pyramid scream by the Fedgov.

Take it as soon as you can. It's your money, and with the Trillions for Covid, I suspect the Feds will be looking at ways to counter those costs.

51 posted on 05/09/2020 5:08:04 PM PDT by A Navy Vet (I'm not Islamophobic - I'm Islamonauseous. Also LGBTQxyz nauseous.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

wow, you must be getting a hell of a lot more social security than i am to be able to keep jennifer in the lifestyle she’s used to, even at 95!


52 posted on 05/09/2020 5:10:24 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: entropy12

and
(3) if you experience a crippling injury and can no longer work, losing your paycheck, receiving SS Disability is a good option.


53 posted on 05/09/2020 5:31:31 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: catnipman

> wow, you must be getting a hell of a lot more social security than i am to be able to keep jennifer in the lifestyle she’s used to, even at 95! <

You’ve got it backwards. Jennifer is going to have to worry about keeping me in the lifestyle I’m used to. After all, my old car burns a lot of oil. And motor oil ain’t free. She’ll have to pitch in.


54 posted on 05/09/2020 10:46:54 PM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

*


55 posted on 05/09/2020 11:53:19 PM PDT by Synthesist (" ...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

Yep - and a lot of folks who hold off for higher payments don’t live long enough to break even...we both started at 62 so we could do more while we’re still upright....


56 posted on 05/10/2020 3:13:34 AM PDT by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches, or Trump in general, while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rintintin

Social Security payments are figured so that, regardless of what age you start social security, 62, 66 or 70, your lifetime payment, statistically, is the same. So, if everybody is going to statistically get the same amount of money you might as well start early.


57 posted on 05/10/2020 6:07:20 AM PDT by ops33 (SMSgt, USAF, Retired)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

“She’ll have to pitch in.”

yeah, i can see that ...


58 posted on 05/10/2020 9:40:34 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson